School Leadership in Africa: Key Insights from the School Leadership Continental Mapping – Fact Sheet

This fact sheet synthesises key insights from the African Centre for School Leadership (ACSL) continental mapping on school leadership in Africa. It analyzes policy, professional development, research, and sector coordination to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for strengthening leadership systems.

The study highlights growing recognition of school leadership as a driver of education quality, yet underscores fragmented policies, limited professionalisation, and uneven implementation across countries. While professional development initiatives and research are expanding, they remain insufficiently coordinated and underutilised.

The document calls for stronger policy alignment, institutionalised leadership development, increased investment in evidence, improved coordination, and greater emphasis on gender equity to support effective, system-wide school leadership across Africa.